Closing a SharePoint website document without this leading to the SharePoint folder.

Question

Hello,

I have created a new SharePoint site which can be viewed by anyone within the organisation. The site contains several links to PDF documents which currently open in the same tab. When you click the X to close the PDF, it takes the user to the Team SharePoint folder in which the original document is stored and not to the SharePoint site.

Is there a way to make links open in a new tab and/or return the user to the original SharePoint page, rather than taking them to our Teams folder?

Each PDF does have a 'back' function, but the X is more prominent and is being used more regularly, which is leading users away from the page (and then them having to search the link again) and to a folder they don't need to access.

Many thanks.

Answer 1

This has been complained about for years (maybe decades) but never fixed by Msft. On what planet would a user prefer to be redirected to the library containing the document they clicked a link to? Makes ZERO sense and yet Msft disabled the classic workaround ( ?source=redirecturl redirect function) without providing an alternative.

Answer 2

I have the same question, but I added the link via Quicklinks and have clicked the box to "Open in new tab". However, if users click the close button/X in the upper right corner of the browser pdf preview, it goes back to the document library. I want people to be forced to either close the tab or when they close out of the document they are returned to the previous url.

Is there a way to make that happen?

If not, is there a way to force documents to open in desktop apps instead of the web preview?

Thanks

Krysten

Answer 3

Hi Amy,

Thanks for posting back.

According to your reply, I suggest you view the following points.

1. I would like to know if the steps you took to copy the link were like this.

In Teams, click the three dots of the PDF file, Details, under More details, click the Copy button of Path. Please note that this is a direct link to the file, allowing users who already have access to view the file through the link.

If you want all internal users to be able to view the PDF file, you will need to use a sharing link. Click the three dots of the PDF file, Share, in the dialog, click the Gear icon of "Copy link", set "People in your tenant", Apply, and then click "Copy link".

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/070c61f5-bb1a-42d2-a594-bd12d67a3e36?platform=QnA"2">

Answer 4

Hi George,

Thank you for your help.

I have copied the link from our Team folder and copied this as a link to the SharePoint site.

I haven't used any quick links. The majority of links have been added to an Image - For a bit of context, the PDF files are for 'career stories', so our SharePoint site has a picture or the author (or similar) and when a viewer clicks on the photo, the PDF document loads.

At present the document is loading in the same tab, but upon closing it (clicking the 'X' rather than 'back'), the page refreshes and takes the user our Teams folder where the original document is stored.

I have added an example screenshot which hopefully makes more sense!

Thank you

Amy

Answer 5

Hi Amy,

Thanks for posting in the community. We are happy to help you.

Per your description, these PDF files are stored on another team site. I would like to know how you added the PDF file's URL to the new site. Did you add the URL into a web part on the page, such as the Quick Links web part? Or did you create a Link file in the library and add the URL to it? Please provide more details about the situation.

Based on my test, some web parts support opening the link/file in a new browser tab. Also, clicking the Link file in the library also opens the link in a new browser tab.

We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely, 

George | Microsoft Community Moderator